Bladder Cancer 2 Page

How Long Will It Take To Recover From A Radical Cystectomy?

Radical cystectomy with the creation of a urinary diversion is a major surgical procedure. It takes several hours to perform the procedure and includes operating on the intestines. The recovery from this surgery can be...

What Are The Risks Of A Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection?

In most cases, pelvic lymph node dissection does not increase the morbidity of a radical cystectomy operation. This means that people who have a radical cystectomy with a pelvic lymph node dissection have the same...

What Is A Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection?

A pelvic lymph node dissection is a procedure that removes those lymph nodes that are most likely to harbor metastatic bladder cancer. The lymphatic sys-tem collects fluid throughout the body and returns it to the...

What Are The Risks Of A Radical Cystectomy?

A radical cystectomy is major surgery and as such has serious potential risks. Keep in mind, however, that the goal of surgery is to cure you of cancer. As such, minor complications are not uncommon,...

Do Older People Do Well After A Cystectomy?

I am an older person and am afraid that major surgery will be too much for me. Do older people do well after a cystectomy? This is a valid concern and one that many physicians...

What is Robotic Surgery?

Robotic surgery is essentially an outgrowth of laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can be difficult because the instruments need to be long and straight to be inserted through the skin. It can thus be difficult to reach some...

Can A Radical Cystectomy Be Done Via Laparoscopy?

Absolutely. It can be done. Multiple surgeons have now reported that they have performed the procedure successfully. In women, the procedure technically is similar to removal of the uterus, a procedure that is commonly performed...

What is Laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy refers to surgery that is done by using instruments inserted into the body through a tiny incision. A camera attached to a small telescope inserted through another tiny incision provides visualization for the surgeon....

Can I Have Surgery At My Local Hospital?

Or Do I Need To Travel To A Large Referral Center? Many local hospitals across the country provide excel-lent care that is convenient for both you and your family. Several factors are involved in making...

Who Needs A Radical Cystectomy?

Radical cystectomy is the procedure of choice for many different types of patients. Most commonly, it is per-formed in patients who have muscle-invasive bladder cancer. If a bladder cancer invades the muscle, then other treatments...

What Is A Radical Cystectomy?

A radical cystectomy is the complete surgical removal of the bladder. It can be thought of as three separate procedures: (1) removal of the bladder, (2) removal of the lymph nodes, and (3) creation of...

What is Bladder Cancer Surveillance?

Bladder cancer surveillance refers to the period of time that you are monitored for a recurrence of bladder cancer after the bladder cancer has been removed or treated. It is a term that is used...

What are the Risks of Mitomycin C?

When given intravesically, your body absorbs little or none of the drug, making systemic reactions rare. Allergic reactions can occur in 3% to 19% of patients. Rarely, some patients will experience decreased blood cell counts....

How Effective is Mitomycin C?

The efficacy of mitomycin C, as with all intravesical therapies, depends on when and how it is given, as well as to whom it is given. Mitomycin C was initially given to patients who failed...

What is Mitomycin C?

Mitomycin C is a form of chemotherapy that is given intravesically in the same way that BCG is given. This type of chemotherapy acts by binding to tumor cell DNA, causing the DNA to malfunction...

What is Interferon-α?

Interferons are chemicals that are part of your body’s normal immune system. There are several subtypes of interferons, including α-interferon. BCG is, at least in part, effective against bladder cancer because it causes an increase...

How is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Given?

BCG is administered through a catheter. The nurse will ask you to urinate to empty your bladder completely. A urine dipstick test will be performed to test for blood or infection. If the dipstick test...

What Are The Risks Of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)?

BCG therapy is well tolerated by the majority of patients who receive it. It is, however, a live bacteria, and thus has a small potential of causing infection. Approximately 75% of the patients do complain...

How Effective is Calmette-Guerin (BCG)?

BCG can best be described as very effective at preventing and delaying recurrences. Its actual effect depends on the grade and stage of tumor being treated as well as the dose and timing of the...

Who Should Get Calmette-Guerin (BCG)?

BCG is an option for treatment only after the initial TURBT has been performed and the pathologist has established a definitive diagnosis. Patients with low-grade, low-stage tumors are usually not given BCG. These patients have...

What is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)?

BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. It was developed in the 1920s. Some readers may recognize this as a vaccine for tuberculosis, as it is still used for this purpose in many countries. BCG is a...